“I do feel they’re important,” Earle said. “I think it’s a good first step. In some ways, the problems we had, like the staff had, are some of the same problems that I think we’re going to have with diversity and inclusion.”

During the Fall 2015 semester, colleges and universities across the country were rocked by student protests addressing racial tensions on campuses. Ithaca College was also affected by these issues, and it is among many other institutions that are now trying to heal their communities while also facing losses in enrollment and retention.